Comparison

MEL VR Science Simulations vs Materials VR

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

MEL VR Science Simulations

Explore chemistry and physics through immersive virtual reality simulations and interactive labs. This app transforms learning complex scientific concepts into an engaging and entertaining experience, perfect for students and educators.

Highlights
  • Virtual reality science simulations
  • Interactive labs and lessons
  • Chemistry and physics curriculum alignment
  • Molecular and atomic level exploration
  • Interactive periodic table
  • Over 70 VR lessons, labs, and simulations
Features
Read full description

MEL VR Science Simulations is a growing series of science simulations, lessons, and labs covering chemistry and physics. Made to fit right into the school curriculum, virtual reality turns studying into an interactive and immersive experience, making learning entertaining. Become a researcher in a scientific laboratory You will enter the MEL Virtual Laboratory, where you will zoom in on such seemingly simple objects like a pencil or a balloon, fly between molecules and atoms, and understand the differences between solids and gaseous substances at a molecular level! Immerse yourself in the world of chemistry and physics and see how it looks from the inside. With the virtual reality glasses you will see chemical compounds and physical reactions inside everyday objects. Don’t memorize, understand! It’s not enough to memorize formulas from a textbook. To understand the concepts of science, shrink down to the molecular and atomic level, immerse yourself in different types of matter and see how atoms and molecules interact from a whole new perspective. Online school in virtual reality It is difficult to retain the attention of children with formulas and boring textbooks. Immersed in virtual reality, nothing distracts from study. Short 5-minute VR lessons, interactive labs, and simulations are an excellent way to understand complex chemical and physical concepts through engaging visualizations. With MEL VR Science Simulations, science becomes a favorite subject at home and at school. To cover all the main topics, at present the application contains a growing library of over 70 VR lessons, labs, and simulations: Discover that an atom consists of a tiny nucleus, surrounded by an electron cloud. Learn about the three main subatomic particles: electrons, protons and neutrons. You will see how atoms are arranged in ordinary items like pencils and balloons. Find out that atoms in solids do not remain motionless, but are in motion all the time! Dive into gaseous helium and see how these atoms behave. What happens with atoms when the temperature increases? In the interactive laboratory you can assemble any atoms, and study the structure of their electron orbitals. Assemble any molecule and see how they take shape. Learn the difference between the structural and skeletal formula. Look at the real position of atoms in a molecule and the bonds between them. Use our interactive periodic table to find out how the periodic table is arranged. Why the elements are placed in this order, and what information you can learn from the position of an element in the periodic table. You can select any element, and see the structure of its atoms and electron configuration. MEL VR Science simulations also has lessons, labs, and simulations covering isotopes, electrons, ions,the periodic table, molecular formulas, isomers, electrostatics and much more. The future of education is already here, download the MEL VR Science simulations application right now! All content is also available to view in 2D. Language options available. For educational licensing or bulk purchasing, contact vr@melscience.com

About

Materials VR

Features
Read full description

Materials VR uses virtual reality to help students visualize molecular structures. Molecules can be selected from a list and rotated or moved around by the user. The Google Cardboard version includes gaze input which allows the user to gaze at a button for 2 seconds to interact with it. Currently this app only offers a couple molecules to swap between. We are planning on adding more molecules, educational structure, and ways to interact with molecules.

Screenshots

MEL VR Science Simulations4 screens
Materials VR3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Materials VR at none against MEL VR Science Simulations's 8. Materials VR also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. MEL VR Science Simulations sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Materials VR asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on June 8, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
MEL VR Science Simulations versus Materials VR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMEL VR Science SimulationsMaterials VR
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.8 (90 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews56.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings90 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1.1 GB36 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMEL Science LimitedUniversity of Illinois

In-app purchases

8 purchases

MEL VR Science Simulations

One-time8
  • Atoms lessons pack$9.99
  • Periodic Table lessons pack$9.99
  • Molecules lessons pack$9.99
Show 5 more
  • Gas Laws lessons pack$9.99
  • Isomerism lessons pack$9.99
  • Electrostatics lessons pack$9.99
  • Temperature lessons pack$9.99
  • Substances lessons pack$9.99
None

Materials VR

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MEL VR Science Simulations free?
MEL VR Science Simulations is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Materials VR free?
Materials VR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do MEL VR Science Simulations or Materials VR have ads?
Neither MEL VR Science Simulations nor Materials VR shows ads.
Which is updated more often, MEL VR Science Simulations or Materials VR?
MEL VR Science Simulations ships an update every 2 months, and Materials VR every 2 months. Most recently, MEL VR Science Simulations was updated on June 8, 2026 and Materials VR on September 8, 2026.

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